15GB iPod to Replace 10GB Low End?

[MacRumors]

According to a few reports, Apple may be replacing the 10GB iPod with a 15GB iPod tomorrow.

Much attention has been placed on the rumored Mini iPods (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/12/20031229032549.shtml) but little attention to the existing iPod line.

According to these last-minute rumors, the 15GB line will replace the 10GB at $299, while the 20GB and 40GB would remain in their current spots at $399 and $499. The 15GB is reported to remain the "low end" configuration without dock/remote/case.

Again, it is difficult to gauge many the accuracy of the last minute rumors, but we are only hours away from the keynote.

[revenuee]

Interesting

The 10 gig seemed like a good size for those with what based on previews polls seemed like the average music collection ... but i guess not ...

we'll see in a few hours

[stefman]

I was hoping for a complete revamp of the "big" iPods. My 1st Gen. 5 Gig doesn't have any more room. Maybe in a couple of months.

[kjdenison]

we need complete ipod revisions, brand new design smaller. instead of continuing to bump up the size, the size rite now is good.

[Waluigi]

This would kill 20GB sales, unless they upped the capasity of the other two models. I don't think this will happen exactly this way, but I trust Apple to make it right.

We will soon see!

--Waluigi

[theipodgod16]

i still wish that the low end came with all included accessories, i mean $300 dollers is a lot, at least for a student like me. I think that for $300 dollers deserves a dock and remote. I would have bought one new if this was the case.

[danbirchall]

Originally posted by Waluigi
This would kill 20GB sales, unless they upped the capasity of the other two models. I don't think this will happen exactly this way, but I trust Apple to make it right.

Yeah, $100 extra for an extra 5 gigs and a dock isn't very compelling. Maybe 15/30/60! :)

[Anonymous Freak]

Originally posted by danbirchall
Yeah, $100 extra for an extra 5 gigs and a dock isn't very compelling. Maybe 15/30/60! :)

hehe.. Nobody has announced a 60GB 1.8" hard drive yet. (The 40GB one was announced well before Apple started using it in an iPod.)

15/30/40 maybe, but then, again, you don't get much of an increase from mid to high.

And $100 extra for an extra 5 gigs and a dock had people buying 15s over 10s when the 3G iPods first came out. (10/15/30 was the split before they moved to 10/20/40.)

As for me, unless they revamp the existing models, I'm getting a 20GB model tomorrow at 11AM. (I won't buy anything smaller than 10GB, and I want a dock. If the long-rumored Video iPod comes out, I may consider it, but I'm still planning on the 20GB model.)

[johnnyjibbs]

In the UK, the current 10 Gig is a bad buy. The prices are a lot closer between them than in the US.

Currently in the UK:

10 Gig - £230 (~$400)
20 Gig - £270 with dock, etc (~$450)
40 Gig - £400 (~$700)

From this, I've always thought the 20 Gig was by far the best value, as you get twice the space for about the price of the dock and remote, etc.

Before September, there were 10, 15 and 30 Gig models for the same prices. People still bought the 15 Gig then, so I don't see why the 10 can't be upgraded. It should have been at least reduced in price slightly at the last update IMO.

As for anyone saying 10 Gigs is about the right size, why complain if you get 15 Gigs for the price of 10?

[tdhurst]

Originally posted by theipodgod16
i still wish that the low end came with all included accessories, i mean $300 dollers is a lot, at least for a student like me. I think that for $300 dollers deserves a dock and remote. I would have bought one new if this was the case.
Well, maybe you should work a lil bit more. High quality usually requires a high price.

[Squire]

Originally posted by danbirchall
Yeah, $100 extra for an extra 5 gigs and a dock isn't very compelling. Maybe 15/30/60! :)

Dock $39
Case $39
Remote $39

Okay, the 40 bucks for that case is a joke but the remote and dock are useful. Who wouldn't go for a 20 GB model? Unless, of course, that 100 bucks was really a big deal.

Squire

[~Shard~]

Bumping up the low end is great, if Apple can do it for the same price (which they no doubt can), however then some corresponding adjustments will need to be made to the other models, either in capacity or price, to make them still a good buy/competitive.

Guess we'll find out in 3 hours!

[Lancetx]

Originally posted by Waluigi
This would kill 20GB sales, unless they upped the capasity of the other two models. I don't think this will happen exactly this way, but I trust Apple to make it right.

15GB models sold just fine when they were the mid range model and the 10GB was the entry level back last summer, so I doubt a 15GB entry level iPod would kill 20GB sales right now at all. iPods are so hot these days there is little Apple could do wrong actually (aside from raising prices that is anyway).

[Lord Bodak]

The problem is, as Squire pointed out, if you want the case, remote, and dock, the 20 gig is actually cheaper!

I would want the dock and a case (maybe not Apple's case), but I don't care about the remote-- but at that point you're paying $380 for a 15 gig with no remote, where for $400 you can have a 20 gig with remote, that makes no sense.